Zain was busy with his office work, while Maya, as usual, was engrossed in her phone when it suddenly rang.
Sara's name flashed across the screen.
Maya answered the call.
Almost immediately, Sara sensed something unusual. Whenever Maya received a call from her children, excitement would naturally brighten her voice. Today, however, her tone seemed distant and distracted.
The conversation lasted only a few minutes before Maya ended the call.
Zain, who had been quietly working nearby, noticed the change. Even Maya herself was surprised by her own behavior.
She placed the phone aside and walked toward the window. Resting her hand on the windowpane, she gazed outside.
A strange heaviness settled over her.
"I had been waiting for Sara's call," she thought. "Then why did I show so little interest when she finally called? What must she be thinking about me?"
A deep sigh escaped her lips.
"Perhaps Zain was right. Maybe I have become too absorbed in my phone. Maybe it is slowly distancing me from the people I love."
Determined to distract herself, she stepped away from the window and tried to avoid looking at her phone.
The effort lasted only a few minutes.
An invisible pull drew her back.
Reluctantly, she returned to the table, picked up the phone, and unlocked it.
Within moments, she had opened ChatGPT.
She typed out her concerns and began reading the response. Yet every answer seemed to give birth to another question.
From across the room, Zain watched her silently.
He could sense that Maya was struggling.
After a moment, he approached her and gently held her hand.
"Maya, if you don't mind, would you make us some coffee?"
Maya nodded and walked toward the kitchen.
Zain was not craving coffee.
He simply wanted to draw her attention away from the screen.
A short while later, Maya returned carrying a tray.
A warm smile appeared on Zain's face, but it faded almost instantly.
Maya was gripping the chair for support.
She seemed unsteady on her feet.
The paleness of her face and the exhaustion in her eyes told him that something was wrong.
Without hesitation, Zain rose from his chair, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and helped her sit down.
Without wasting a moment, Zain brought her a glass of water and handed it to her.
"Maya, are you alright?" he asked anxiously.
Maya was unable to speak. She simply nodded.
After a few minutes, her condition improved.
Zain looked at her with concern and said, "Maya, I think we should consult a doctor."
Maya took a deep breath and replied briefly, "There's no need to worry. I just felt a little dizzy. I'm fine now."
The following day, while Zain was away from home, Maya experienced the same sensation again.
Once, she nearly lost her balance and was about to fall, but somehow managed to steady herself.
By evening, she decided to go for her usual walk.
After getting ready, she walked toward the door.
The moment she reached it, a dark veil seemed to descend before her eyes. The room began to spin around her.
Startled, she stepped back and, with great difficulty, lowered herself into a nearby chair.
After a little while, Zain returned home.
Maya was still sitting in the same chair. The dinner table had not been prepared, which was unusual.
The moment Zain saw her pale face, concern flickered in his eyes. Instead of heading for the shower, as he normally did after returning from work, he pulled a chair beside her and sat down.
Maya cast a hesitant glance at him before quickly lowering her eyes.
"Maya, you don't look well," Zain said softly.
Before she could respond, he continued, "And please don't try to hide it from me today. I can see that something is wrong."
Maya remained silent.
After a brief pause, Zain added, "Sara and Azan called me today. They were worried about you. They said you haven't been answering their calls."
A trace of discomfort crossed Maya's face.
"My phone was on silent mode," she replied. "I must have missed their calls."
Zain studied her expression for a moment.
Then his gaze shifted toward the untouched dining area.
"Maya, you didn't prepare dinner today," he said gently. "That isn't like you. Even when you're unwell, you somehow manage everything."
Maya hesitated before answering.
"I thought we should have something different tonight. I was planning that we could have dinner at a restaurant instead."
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Zain's face.
He sensed that Maya was avoiding the real issue, but he decided not to press her further.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," he said. "Get ready. I'll take a quick shower, and then we'll leave."
Next chapter coming soon.......23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerEwHcPBk1
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